Energy management system which includes on-site energy supply

A system for managing the supply of energy to a plurality of loads at different sites that each receive power from an electric power grid, comprising:

• a plurality of on-site power generators respectively located at said different sites that are each capable of supplying power to an associated load independently of said power grid;
• a controller located remote from said sites which processes data relating to at least one factor affecting the supply of power to the loads, and selects the power grid or an on-site generator at each respective site as a preferred power source;
• a communication interface which transmits the selections made by the controller to the respective sites;
• and
• a switch at each site which is responsive to the transmitted selection of the preferred power source for that site to connect the load at that site to the selected power source.

A method for ensuring an uninterrupted supply of quality power to a load that receives power from an electric power grid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a power generator at the site of the load, which is capable of supplying power to the load independently of the power grid;
• processing a plurality of factors which affect the supply of power to the load, wherein at least one of the factors is predictive of the reliability and/or quality of power from the electric power grid;
• and
• selectively connecting the load to the electric power grid or the generator in response to the processing of said plurality of factors.

A system for managing the supply of energy to a plurality of loads at different sites that each receive power from an electric power grid, comprising:

• a plurality of on-site power generators respectively located at said different sites that are each capable of supplying power to an associated load independently of said power grid;
• a controller located remote from said sites which processes data relating to at least one factor affecting the supply of power to the loads, and determining whether an on-site generator at each respective site should be connected to an associated load;
• a communication interface which transmits the determinations made by the controller to the respective sites;
• and
• a switch at each site which is responsive to the transmitted determination to selectively connect the load at that site to receive power from the on-site generator.

A method for ensuring a supply of quality power to a load that receives power from an electric power grid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a power generator at the site of the load, which is capable of supplying power to the load independently of the power grid;
• processing a plurality of factors which affect the supply of power to the load, wherein at least one of said factors relates to the reliability and/or quality of the power;
• and
• selectively connecting the load to receive power from the generator in response to the processing of said plurality of factors.